HC Deb 27 October 2003 vol 412 cc131-2WS
Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been made available for the new Police Service of Northern Ireland training college; what progress has been made in identifying a site for the college., and if he will make a statement. [134821]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The project for the provision of a new police college is of key importance and has the Government's full commitment to see the project through to completion.

The project is being progressed by the Police College Project Board (chaired by the PSNI and with representatives from the NIO and Policing Board) and an Outline Business Case was recently approved by Treasury, allowing the project to proceed to procurement stage.

The procurement is to take the form of a Public Private Partnership (PPP), wherein the successful developer will incur all of the costs associated with the design, build and maintenance of the premises in return for an annual fee over the lifespan of the facility. Consultants have been appointed to project manage the scheme, for which full funding has been provided.

In relation to the site of the new college, the PSNI and the Policing Board have carried out an exercise to identify a suitable site for the location of the facility and this process is due to reach a conclusion shortly. Provision for funding has been made for the purchase of the site.